Swedish vocals
International relevance: ***
Vildkaktus are probably best known for
their 1971 album ”
Vindarnas vägar”, a more ”typically” prog
sounding affair than its predecessor, the un(der)sung ”Tidsmaskinen”
(”the time machine”). ”Tidsmaskinen” was one of the first
albums to be released by MNW Records (cat. no. MNW 11P), and is one
of the label's most rewarding releases of 1970.
Tobias Petterson describes the album
nicely in ”The Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music” : ”With
strong songs and interesting Swedish-language lyrics, 'Tidsmaskinen'
in full of intricate and appealing sounds presenting a unique blend
of vocal harmonies, fuzz guitars amd wild piano jazz – often within
the same song.” ”Tidsmaskinen” also has a certain U.S. West
Coast vibe, and with its jazzy touches, a band like Spirit leaps to
mind. Add to that a generous melodic sensibility inherited from
guitarist and singer Olle Nilsson's previous band '14' (who released
the very rare album ”In a Bunch” on Olga Records in 1966).
References aside, ”Tidsmaskinen” is
a truly original work which doesn't reveal its full splendour until
after several spins, but even after one has grown familiar with it,
there are still enough of adventurous song structures and suprising
style changes to keep the listener's interest at peak all through.
Best of all: it never sounds mannered and artificial, only rich with
ideas gracefully merged into a cohesive whole that impresses in all
the right ways.
Apart from their endearing debut album
and the aforementioned ”Vindarnas vägar”, the band released
”Natten” in 1973 which turned out to be their last album as
Vildkaktus. They also had two 45's out in 1971 and 1972 respectively,
including a total of three non-album tracks. A Swedish Radio session
for the Midnight Hour show in 1971 were subsequently released as part
of the 40CD box set ”Progglådan” in 2013.
In 1994, Olle Nilsson won a lookalike
contest arranged by a commcercial TV network, bringing his part as
John Lennon in long running Beatles tribute band Liverpool to
nationwide success. Liverpool also appeared in the Eurovision Song
Contest national selection in 2003, but their contribution ”Love Is
All” didn't make it to the final round.
Both Olle Nilsson and piano player
Gösta Nilsson was in fusion outfit
Ibis which pretty much was a
later incarnation of Vildkaktus. Originally a trained church
musician, Nilsson also worked as a professional choir master, thus
meeting soon-to-be noted jazz vocalist Monica Borrfors with whom he
recorded the album ”Your Touch” (which, as it happens, also
featured another former Vildkaktus member, bass player Tommy
Johnson.)
Drummer Ali Lundbohm appeared on a
couple of albums by other progg acts in the early 70's including
Contact's final LP ”Utmarker”, before joining successful blues
singer
Rolf Wikström's backing band.
”Tidsmaskinen” bassist Håkan
Thanger went on to work with several Swedish high profile performers
as a songwriter, engineer and musician. He also took a shot at a solo
career, recording a one-off 45 for a camper manufacturing company,
scoring a hit with the humurous ”Polarbjörnen” in 1976. Thanger
now works for a job center.
TidsmaskinenBeatvisa